Out of the Darkness Walk at HRHS, Sept. 11

As part of National Suicide Prevention week, Highlands Ranch High School will host an Out of the Darkness Walk on September 11 to raise awareness and help stop the most preventable cause of death.  A portion of the proceeds will be used for suicide prevention efforts at Douglas County School District and throughout the community. 

The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in more than 200 communities across the country this fall, with the proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). By walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, you will be walking with thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. In deciding to walk you are taking us a step closer to making suicide prevention a national priority.

To find out more about the event and to register (individuals or teams), click here.

Youth Congress Set for Sept. 24

Please join the Douglas County Partnership of Governments and the Douglas County Youth Initiative for Youth Congress 2010. This will take place at the State Capitol, Friday, September 24th 8:30 - 3:30.

Come for the entire day or just lunch and the afternoon policy session. Youth Congress is an annual event that brings youth together with local and state-level elected officials to work on analyzing policies and laws that affect Douglas County kids and families profoundly. Youth come away with knowledge of the policy analysis process, connections with the people who represent their interests, and confidence that they can affect processes that impact them.

This year's issues will include: Medical Marijuana; Laws that Affect Homeless Youth and Families; Criminal Justice System and Disabilities; Status Offenses; Access to Resources; Mental Health Funding and Service Access.

To RSVP or for more information: Call or email Carla at 303-688-4825 X 5327, cturner@douglas.co.us.

DCEF Sponsors Third Annual Rapids Night

The Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) is excited to announce the 3rd Annual Douglas County School District Colorado Rapids Community Night!

The DCEF will once again be sponsoring an event for DCSD to enjoy a family night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, September 18th at 7:00PM. The Rapids will play the New England Revolution.

Tickets will be $16 for seating in the South Stands ($25 value, save $9, plus no ticket fees) and parking is included with your ticket purchase. As a special incentive, the Rapids and DCEF will donate $3 of each ticket directly to YOUR SCHOOL to help "Fill the Gap"!

To purchase tickets please visit http://schools.dcsdk12.org/dcef and click on the Rapids Night ticket link.

Meadow View Elementary School Principal, Patti Magby was recently named the 2010 Principal of the Year by the Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (COAHPERD). Magby was selected due to her dedication, support and development of innovative programs in the field of physical education.

“I am very honored,” says Magby. “I truly believe that good teachers make us look good, and I am very blessed to have a physical education teacher on staff who is dedicated and committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for our kids.”

Magby will receive her award at the 2010 COAHPERD State Convention in Loveland, Colo. On October 22.

COAHPERD works to provide leadership, professional development and advocacy for health, physical education, recreation, and dance professionals in the state of Colorado.

FSN Rocky Mountain announces the expansion of its broadcast schedule in 2010 to six regular season 5A and 4A games, showcasing 2009 4A state champions Heritage High School and other top teams from around the state.
2010 FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Saturday, Sept. 25: Highlands Ranch at Ponderosa 1:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 8: Columbine at Heritage 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 14: Chaparral at Douglas County 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 29: ThunderRidge at Douglas County 7:00 p.m.

Susan Elliott, a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing at Highlands Ranch High School, will be presenting at the 2010 Teachers Network Teacher's Conference in Singapore, September 6-7. Elliott will present as one of three "Top Teachers Overseas" and will present two breakout sessions geared toward educators. After the conference, she will tour deaf schools, meet with politicians, parents of deaf students, and deaf community leaders as part of her Educational Tour.

RHMS physical education and health teacher, Kelly Corr was named the 2010 Colorado Health Teacher of the Year by the Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Corr has been a physical education and health teacher at RHMS for eight years.

"Middle schoolers make me laugh and they genuinely do want to learn," says Corr. "If you have a connection with kids and they're entertained, they will learn what you want them to learn." Corr is also the man behind the mask as the character Nighthawk Man, the school's character education by fostering the ROK values: Respect it, Own it, and Be Kind.

Corr will be honored at the 2010 COAHPERD State Convention in Loveland, Colo., in October. COAHPERD works to provide leadership, professional development and advocacy for health, physical education, recreation, and dance professionals in the state of Colorado.

The Lone Tree Elementary PTO received top honors from MicroSociety, a national nonprofit organization known for motivating students to succeed using real-world learning environments, at its 18th Annual National Conference on Real-World Learning in June 2010. The PTO provided funds for training and curriculum to create Mane Meadows, a miniature community within the school walls that reflects the real world. The Lone Tree PTO was designated as the 2010 National Award Winner for Outstanding Parents in a MicroSociety School.

Mane Meadows is a model that emphasizes civic education, financial literacy, college and career readiness, entrepreneurship, and the development of 21st century skills, while maintaining high academic standards and meeting district goals. Lone Tree Elementary is one of dozens of MicroSociety magnet schools in the country, and is the only MicroSociety school in Colorado.

"Lone Tree's PTO represents one of our most important guiding principles that parents must be partners and contributors in the education of their children," said Carolyn King Richmond, president and CEO of MicroSociety. "It is the highest honor to be asked to service a community which brings you in -- personally. That commitment to children is what we want from all of our communities, whether for MicroSociety or for some other learning strategy that motivates to take responsibility for their own learning. That is an investment of the highest order. Their efforts are a testament to having a true 'Micro' mindset, which is being fully invested in giving children authentic learning experiences that nurture their talents and skills."

MicroSociety believes that children learn best by doing. Its mission is to create learning environments that motivate students to learn by engaging them in the connections between classroom and real life. For more than 17 years, the nonprofit organization hs provided professional development, curriculum, and teacher training needed to implement this innovative hands-on, experiential learning design in elementary and middle schools.

Earlier this summer, Ranch View Middle School teacher, Katie Rockwell visited Germany as part of the TransAtlantic Outreach Program's (TOP) effort to provide social studies educators the opportunity to experience Modern Germany. The program, sponsored by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut, Deutsche Bank, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

Since 2001, TOP has sought to find the best and most qualified social studies educators and give them the opportunity to experience Germany in person. The two-week study tours take place in the summer. The tours emphasize contemporary German issues, relating especially to the government, economy, culture, education, and environmental awareness. Additional themes include the legacy of the Holocaust, post-war Germany, German unification, and European integration. After completing several workshops, Elliott and other geography and World Cultures Teachers were chosen for the July 2010 summer tour.

"The trip was an amazing look of Modern Germany," says Rockwell. "We visited Munich, Frankfurt, Weimar, and Berlin. "The best part of this experience is bringing back my observations to share with teachers and students through the creation of new lessons for TOP, new workshops for District teachers, and through my own stories for my students."